Water softening apparatus



Oct. 17,` 1939.- s. sMrrH 2,175,549

WATER SOFTENING APPARATUS Original Filed Aug. 19, 1956 l l l l I l I l /Nvewran .5A/waa, .S/v/ TH.

Arran/v: Y.

Patented Oct. 17, \1 939 UNITED STAT-Es PATENT OFFICE Application August 19, 1936, Serial No. 96,767 lRenewed June 7, 1939 4 Claims.

This invention relates to water softening apparatus and applies more particularly to that type of apparatus utilized in the art of water softeners.

Among others, one of the objects of the present 5 invention is to provide a device of this character wherein air is introduced into the water prior to the'water being introduced to the apparatus.

Another object ofthe present invention is to provide an apparatus of this character wherein the structure is not required to be dismantled for fushing-out or revivifying purposes.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character with which water when introduced in a nely divided or atomized state, is cleansed of foreign solids prior to the removal of the hardening constituents.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a device of this character in which the casing or tank is subdivided into a plurality of compartments defined by foraminous structure in the form of suitable mesh screens.

Yet a further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character composed of fewy parts and simple structure which will the more eiciently perform the functions required di it.

Having regard to the foregoing and other objects and advantages which will become apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described in full detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawing in which,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, vertical section taken through the center of an embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the conoidal member associated with the service outlet.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional detail illustrating the means for introducing air into the hard water.

Referring now to the structural details of my invention in which like letters and numerals of reference designate corresponding parts, the letter A indicates a casing or tank of suitable proportions formed with head and base B and C respectively. The head and base members may be welded to the casing or, as indicated at Ill and Il may be threadedly connected and provided with a washer i2 to effect a watertight joint.

Internally, the tank or casing is provided with a plurality of screen members it of suitable mesh.

which subdivides or virtually denes a series of separate compartments I5.` Immediate support for the screen members is provided in theform of projections, rings or like devices i6, it will be observed however that the fill in each Zone or compartment forms a support for the next succecding compartment with the lower-most screen preferably convex.

Each of the compartments or zones I5 are filled -with comparatively small pieces of baked lre clay Il which are relatively uniform in size. This baked clay possesses the necessary properties for removing the hardening constituents such as sulil@ phates, carbonates, alkaline metals, etc., from the hard water.

Immediately above the uppermost compartment I5 is a division or compartment I8. This latter is preferably lled with sand or .suitable m -ltering materials I9 for the ltration or cleansing of the water passing therethrough. Directly above the compartment I8 and fill i9 is an unfilled section which forms an atomizing chamber 20.`

Mounted centrally in the head B is the pipe or conduit 2l. This conduit communicates with a source of water to be softened and is provided with a shut-off valve 22, a controlled air inlet 23 and a spray or atomizer 2d. The atomizer 25 it will be observed is within the chamber 20 removed from the fill i9, thus water entering the casing is finely divided and broken up to, substantially vapour form before settling upon the filtering or cleansing material.

The means for introducing air directly into the water prior to entrance to the apparatus comprises a Y branch fitting 25 provided with a hinged ap valve 26 normally held in a closed position by means of a spring 2l and a shut-olf valve 28 35 which enables the air to be shut oi entirely. During operation of the apparatus or .when it is deemed advisable or necessary, the valve 28 is opened. As the incoming water passes through the pipe 2i a vacuum is created which automatid@ cally opens the flap valve 26 and causes air to be drawn' into and commingled with the water and in such form passes to the spray. 'I'he vapourizing or spraying of the water with the previously introduced air accelerates the escape of carbon M dioxide or hydrogen sulphide and at the same time the absorption of oxygen aids in the precipitation of iron from solution.

At the base of the apparatus I arrange a conduit or service outlet 29 which is provided with d@ a suitable shut-oil' valve 30. Within the apparatus and mounted upon the upper extremity of the conduit 29 is a conoidal member 3i (see Fig. 2). This member-may take .the form of a casting orjbe composed ci a series of superimposed rings 55 so formed as to provide a multiplicity of narrow slits 32 through which the softened water passes on its way to the outlet 29. Internally of the conoidal member I provide a screen 33 while the head, it will be observed, is detachably mounted for screen removal or cleaning.

As it will be found desirable or necessary to ush-out the apparatus or revivify the materials therein, I provide suitable means in the form of a valve controlled inlet 34 and a valve controlled outlet 35. The inlet 34 may of course be employed as an auxiliary outlet should additional or extra water service be required.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have developed an extremely simple and practical apparatus for the softening of hard water and at the same time one that may readily be cleansed or flushed out, and the acting material as occasion or circumstance dictates, revivled.

Changes may be made in the above structure and many apparently widely dilerent embodiments constructed without departing from the spirit or scope thereof. It is intended therefore that all matter contained herein shall be interpreted as illustrative rather than in a limitative sense.-

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In a device of the character described, an upright casing, water softening material in the middle of the casing and spaced from the top and the bottom of the casing, a water outlet pipe leading from the lower part of the casing below the water softening material, a water inlet pipe connected with the upper part of said casing above the water softening material, spray means on said water inlet pipe within the casing to substantially atomize water introduced into the upper part of the casing, and an air inlet connection to said water inlet pipe in advance of the spray means to take in air to ow with the .water through the spray means. l

2. In a water cleaning and softening apparatus, an upright casing, a screen in the upper part lof said casing spaced from the top thereof, a

secondscreen in the lower part of said casing and spaced from the bottom thereof, water softening material Iin said casing between the screens, a water inlet pipe leadlngto the top of the casing, spray means on the discharge endof said water inlet pipe within the casing to sub- .stan-tially atomize water introduced to the caspartment in the upper part of the casing and a I discharge compartment in the lower part of the casing, water cleaning and softening material in the compartments in the middle portion of the casing, a water` inlet pipe connected in the upper part of the casing, a water discharge outlet pipe connected in the lower ypart of the casing, spray means within the casingt on the discharge end of the water inlet pipe, a branch air inlet pipe connected with the water inlet pipe, and valve means in said air inlet pipe through which air is introduced with the water by aspiration. 4. A water cleaning and softening apparatus comprising, an elongated casing tank disposed in upright relation and provided with a, domed top, a plurality of screens mounted in said tank in substantially horizontal planes spaced below the domed up top and above the bottom of the tank to`L thus dene compartments, water cleaning material in one of said compartments, water softening material in another ofv said compartments, a water inlet pipe connected through theI domed top of the tank, a water discharge pipe connected through the lower part of the tank, a spray head within'said tank on the discharge end of the inlet pipe to substantially atomize water introduced therethrough, an air inlet pipe connected with'said water inlet pipein advance 

